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Bitbucket is a Git hosting and CI/CD platform with hosted and self-managed deployment options. The pricing page lists a free plan and pricing from $3.65, but check current usage and runner charges before budgeting. For a move, separate repository hosting from pull-request review and pipelines: Gitea, Forgejo and Gitee are closer to forge replacements, while Gerrit and review tools cover narrower parts of the stack. Confirm API and workflow compatibility before migrating.
01Why people leave Bitbucket
Runner costs can shift
One r/devops thread reports a $15/month charge per Bitbucket self-hosted runner; verify current terms against your expected usage.
API and integrations differ
A Reddit commenter points to GitHub's API and automation; another says their team moved from Bitbucket to GitHub for Linear integration.
Hosting control matters
A Reddit commenter says their team runs GitLab locally for client security and licensing requirements; similar constraints may favor self-hosting.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Best self-hosted forge
GiteaGitea
Gitea is a self-hostable Git platform with issues and reviews, and it is MIT-licensed. Self-host it free, or pay Gitea to manage the instance; listed pricing starts at $9.50 with a free plan. It suits teams replacing repository hosting without an Atlassian bundle. Inventory Bitbucket API calls and pipeline workflows before migrating; GitHub Actions workflow reuse does not establish Bitbucket compatibility.
Trade-off: Your team owns self-hosting operations, or pays for Gitea's managed service.
8.0/10from
$9.50/mofree plan - Best free self-hosting
ForgejoForgejoForgejo is a free, lightweight, self-hosted forge for teams that want control over code privacy and hosting. Its listed plan is free, with no managed starting price stated. It can replace the forge layer, but plan for server operations and check migration requirements. Before moving integrations, compare Forgejo's API and workflow support with the Bitbucket calls your codebase depends on.
Trade-off: Hosting, maintenance and migration checks stay with your team.
7.7/10from
Freefree plan - Best gated reviews
Gerrit Code ReviewGerrit Code ReviewGerrit is open source and self-hostable, with configurable patch reviews and detailed permissions. It has no license fees, but hosting and operations remain your responsibility. Choose it when review gates and permission control matter more than an all-in-one forge. Treat the move as a review-workflow migration: check API and integration compatibility, and plan separately for repository hosting and CI/CD.
Trade-off: It covers code review, not a complete Bitbucket replacement by itself.
7.5/10from
Freefree plan - Best private deployment
GiteeGiteeGitee bundles code hosting and DevOps workflows, with private deployment available. Its listed pricing starts at $24.92 with a free plan. That makes it a closer platform-level alternative than a desktop Git client or review add-on. Before moving core repositories, check integration coverage, API compatibility and migration terms; those details can shape both implementation effort and ongoing costs.
Trade-off: Check migration terms and integrations before making it core infrastructure.
6.5/10from
CN¥24.92/mofree plan - Best code and document review
Review BoardReview BoardReview Board supports review of code, documents and images, with hosted, on-prem and air-gapped deployment options. It lists a free plan and pricing from $6, and supports version-control integrations. Consider it if Bitbucket's review workflow is the part you want to change. It is not a repository-hosting or CI/CD replacement, so keep those parts elsewhere and verify integration fit.
Trade-off: You still need separate Git hosting and CI/CD.
7.1/10from
$6/mofree plan - Best stacked PR workflow
GraphiteGraphiteGraphite is a focused review layer for GitHub teams adopting stacked pull requests or standardizing PR reviews. It lists a free plan and pricing from $20; check seat costs and hosted-service constraints before standardizing on it. It is not a Bitbucket-hosting replacement: moving to this workflow means planning for GitHub hosting and checking how existing automation and integrations carry over.
Trade-off: It depends on GitHub and adds a hosted review service.
7.3/10from
$20/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bitbucket Bitbucket (current) | 7.5 | $3.65/mo | Yes | Teams already using Jira |
| Gitea Gitea | 8.0 | $9.50/mo | Yes | Teams that want self-hosted Git |
| Forgejo Forgejo | 7.7 | Free | Yes | Teams running their own Git forge |
| Gerrit Code Review Gerrit Code Review | 7.5 | Free | Yes | Teams that self-host Git services |
| Gitee Gitee | 6.5 | CN¥24.92/mo | Yes | Teams seeking an all-in-one DevOps suite |
| Review Board Review Board | 7.1 | $6/mo | Yes | Teams reviewing code and documents together |
| Graphite Graphite | 7.3 | $20/mo | Yes | GitHub teams adopting stacked PRs |
Questions people ask
Does Bitbucket have an equivalent to GitHub Actions?
Bitbucket's CI/CD option is Bitbucket Pipelines, but that does not mean GitHub Actions workflows run unchanged. For a move, map triggers, secrets, runner setup and deployment steps, then verify API calls and billing against the target's documentation.
Do people still use GitLab?
Yes. Developers in Reddit discussions describe organizations choosing GitLab, including self-hosted installs tied to cost, compliance and control requirements. Those accounts are anecdotal, not a measure of market share. If Jira and Confluence links matter, compare integrations before changing your source-control platform.
What are some alternatives to GitHub and GitLab?
For self-hosted Git hosting, Gitea and Forgejo are lightweight forge options; Gitee offers an all-in-one DevOps suite and private deployment. Gerrit is a narrower choice for configurable code review. Compare API and workflow compatibility, hosting work and migration terms before moving repositories.